Nagra-SDM spat: Congmen out on streets

The controversy over the verbal spat between Congress MLA Kuljeet Singh Nagra and SDM Pooja Syal Grewal intensified with the women's wing of the Congress burning the SDM's effigy on the Railway Road at Humayunpur near Sirhind on Saturday, demanding the latter's transfer.

The controversy over the verbal spat between Congress MLA Kuljeet Singh Nagra and SDM Pooja Syal Grewal intensified with the women's wing of the Congress burning the SDM's effigy on the Railway Road at Humayunpur near Sirhind on Saturday, demanding the latter's transfer.

The agitators threatened to launch state-wide protests if the state government did not transfer the SDM for "leveling baseless allegations" against the MLA.

Former councillors Kuldeep Kaur Gill, Renu Vithal, Sunita Arora, and Balvir Kaur said that MLA Nagra was an educated man who voiced the issues of the his constituency. They alleged that the SDM had complained against Nagra in an effort to hide her mistakes. If the SDM did not change her attitude they would gherao her office, they claimed.

They also criticised the chairperson of the Punjab State Commission for Women for favouring the SDM. "Where was she when the police beat up a woman protester in Tarn Taran; or when senior Akalis used foul language against Congress' Ambika Soni who contested from Anandpur Sahib?"

On Saturday, District Congress Committee held a meeting to assess the situation arising from the spat.

Congress district president Harinder Singh Bhambri told mediapersons they would launch an agitation if the state failed to transfer the SDM or if the complaint was not withdrawn.

He also warned the Akalis to stop instigating the matter. "Statements issued by the SAD leaders are proof enough of the nefarious designs of the SAD government to book false cases against Congress MLAs including Charanjit Singh Channi, Kuljeet Singh Nagra and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring," said Bhambri.